Irony heavily depends on context. The context is arranged so that the word positively charged is understood as a negative qualification (‘praise for blame’) E.g. A fine friend you are! (Хорош друг, нечего сказать!) Very seldom negative concepts are used approvingly (‘blame for praise’). E.g. Clever bastard! (Вот гад дает!) - Verbal irony
With verbal irony it is always possible to indicate the word whose contextual meaning opposes the dictionary meaning. E.g. It’s a downpour again. What nice weather we’re having today! TYPES OF IRONY - Sustained irony
The effect of irony is created by a number of statements which contain the contradiction between the said and the implied. Particularly when ‘tis no too late. I like the taxes, when they’re not too many; I like a beef-steak, too, as well as any… I like the weather, when it is not rainy, That is I like two months of every year (‘Beppo’ Byron) FUNCTIONS OF IRONY - It can produce a humorous effect.
- It can convey irritation, displeasure, regret
E.g. How clever of you! - It can be used with the aim of critical evaluation of the phenomenon.
E.g. [about life in a workhouse] “What a noble illustration of the tender laws of this favoured country! – they let the paupers go to sleep!” (Dickens) The term ‘irony ‘ is often used to denote a humorous assessment of the person/thing/event described without direct opposition of ideas or notions. The stylistic opposition is marked by using high-flown linguistic units to render insignificant topics. E.g. Montmorency’s ambition in life is to get in the way and be sworn at. If he can …be a perfect nuisance,…and have things thrown at his head, then he feels his day has not been wasted. To get somebody to stumble over him, and curse him steadily…is his highest aim and object; and, when he has succeeded in accomplishing this, his conceit becomes quite unbearable (Jerome).
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